Police used tear gas and water cannon against a small group of stone-throwing demonstrators who tried to break through the razor wire cordon surrounding EU institutions, where European leaders were meeting to agree new budget restrictions. Nearby rail and underground stations were closed, and hundreds of police barricaded roads around the Belgian senate – their batons and shields stacked against the walls of government buildings.
The demonstration was organised by the two biggest Belgian trade union associations, the socialist FGTB/ABVV and the Catholic CSC/ACV, and was joined by marchers from Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Germany.
Generally, the atmosphere remained good natured, although the anger of many on the streets was clear. “Europe is trying to press governments to cut public services, reduce pensions and end wage indexing,” said Patricia Vermoote, an FGTB activist. “Since the banking crisis, we have financed the banks, while everything to do with social provision is being demolished.”
Philippe Van Muylder, general secretary of the FGTB, said: “Europe has chosen the wrong targets and is forcing the 27 governments to attack the world of work, while we are demanding a tax on financial transactions.”
Before the gathering of European leaders, employers and trade unions met their EU counterparts at a tripartite social summit. ETUC general secretary John Monks said that unions were very concerned about the EU’s economic governance proposals and their emphasis on austerity. “We don’t accept the idea that workers are going to pay for a crisis that was made in the financial markets.
